Author: claimsbot

1. A switch assembly comprising:
a switch housing;
an elongate actuator shaft projecting inwardly into said switch housing, said actuator shaft being axially displaceable between three predetermined switch positions;
a magnet mounted to said actuator shaft, said magnet being positioned within said housing at separate predetermined locations that correspond on a one-to-one basis with said three predetermined switch positions;
first and second magnetic reed switches, said first and second magnetic reed switches being mounted at locations within said housing relative to said elongate actuator shaft and said magnet to place said magnet at locations that cause said first and second reed switches to be in a first open-closed circuit operational state when said switch is in the first of said three predetermined switch positions, to be in a second open-closed circuit operational state when said switch is in the second of said three predetermined switch positions, and to be in a third open-closed operational state when said switch is in the third of said three predetermined switch positions.
2. The switch assembly of claim 1, wherein the inward and outward displacement of said actuator shaft are limited to a predetermined distances, said magnet being located centrally between said inward and outward displacement limits of said actuator shaft when said switch assembly is in said first position, said actuator shaft being at its outward displacement limit when said switch assembly is in said second position, and said actuator shaft being at its inward displacement limit when said switch assembly is in said third position, and wherein said switch assembly further comprises a spring-loaded detent mechanism for maintaining said switch assembly in said first position in the absence of an inward or outward force sufficient to move said actuator shaft toward said second or third position, said spring-loaded detent mechanism returning said switch assembly to said first switch position location when said switch assembly is actuated to one of said second switch positions and the actuation force is removed.
3. The switch assembly of claim 2, wherein the spring-loaded detent mechanism comprises first and second contoured bearing surfaces and first and second spring-loaded plunger assemblies, said first and second contoured bearing surfaces being oppositely disposed from one another and extending inwardly into said actuator shaft at a location that establishes said first position of said switch assembly, said first and second spring-loaded plunger assemblies each including a spring, a cylindrical roller, and a plunger having first and second ends, said roller being mounted for rotation at the first end of said plunger, said first and second plungers being respectively received for sliding movement in first and second recesses that are formed in the interior of said switch housing and are located at a position adjacent said first and second contoured bearing surfaces when said switch assembly is in said first switch position, each said first and second recess having a wall at one end thereof with the second end being open and facing said actuator to position the roller associated with the plunger next to said actuator shaft, said spring of each said spring-loaded plunger assembly being located between said wall of said recess the plunger contained in said recess to urge the roller associated with said plunger against said actuator shaft.
4. The switch assembly of claim 3, wherein the contour of said contoured bearing surfaces and the force asserted by said spring-loaded plungers establish a force-displacement relationship in which the force required to move said elongate actuator shaft from first switch position toward one of said second and third switch positions varies as a function of displacement distance, with the force required for initial displacement being greater than the force required for continued displacement.
5. The switch assembly of claim 4, wherein the force-displacement relationship of said contoured bearing surfaces and said spring-loaded plungers are established so that more force is required to axially displace said elongate actuator shaft toward one of said second and third switch positions than is required to displace said elongate switch actuator shaft toward the other of said second and third switch positions.
6. The switch assembly of claim 1 further comprising a circuit board mounted within said switch housing in spaced apart juxtaposition with said actuator shaft, said first and second reed switches being mounted to said circuit board at said locations that cause said first and second reed switches to be in a first open-closed circuit operational state when said switch is in the first of said three predetermined switch positions, to be in a second open-closed circuit operational state when said switch is in the second of said three predetermined switch positions, and to be in a third open-closed operational state when said switch is in the third of said three predetermined switch positions.
7. The switch assembly of claim 6 wherein said first and second magnetic reed switches are connected in series with one another and wherein said circuit board includes first and second electrical terminals, said switch assembly further comprising first, second and third resistors, with said first resistor being electrically connected between said first electrical connector and one of said first and second series connected magnetic reed switches, said second electrical terminal being electrically connected to the second one of said first and second magnetic reed switches, said second resistor being electrically connected in parallel with said first magnetic reed switch and said third resistor being electrically connected in parallel with said second magnetic reed switch.
8. The switch assembly of claim 7 wherein said switch housing includes a receptacle for receiving an electrical connector and said first and second electrical terminals extend outwardly from said circuit board to form electrical contacts that mate with electrical contacts of said electrical connector.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A transparent pane comprising
an electrically heatable coating electrically connected to at least two first electrodes provided for electrical connection to two terminals of a voltage source such that by applying a feed voltage, a heating current flows over a heating field formed between the at least two first electrodes,
wherein the heating field includes at least one coating-free zone, which is bounded by a zone edge formed at least in sections by the electrically heatable coating, characterized by at least one second electrode provided for electrical connection to one of the two terminals of the voltage source, the at least one second electrode having at least one supply section disposed at least in sections in the at least one coating-free zone and at least one connection section connected to the at least one supply section, and
wherein the at least one connection section extends starting from the at least one coating-free zone, beyond an edge section of the zone edge, the edge section being formed by a section of the heating field that is situated between the at least one coating-free zone and the at least two first electrodes provided for connection to a second one of the two terminals of the voltage source.
2. The transparent pane according to claim 1, wherein the at least one connection section is provided with a free end.
3. The transparent pane according to claim 1, wherein the at least one connection section is evenly distributed over the edge section of the at least one coating-free zone.
4. The transparent pane according to claim 1, wherein the at least one supply section is composed of a coating portion disposed outside the at least one coating-free zone and a zone portion disposed within the at least one coating-free zone.
5. The transparent pane according to claim 1, wherein the at least one supply section is disposed completely within the at least one coating-free zone.
6. The transparent pane according to claim 1, wherein the at least one supply section follows at least the edge section of the zone edge, beyond which the at least one connection section extends.
7. The transparent pane according to claim 1, wherein the at least one supply section circumferentially follows the zone edge.
8. The transparent pane according to claim 1, wherein the at least one supply section is distributed disposed over the at least one coating-free zone.
9. The transparent pane according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second electrode has at least two supply sections, which are connected to the at least one connection section.
10. The transparent pane according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second electrode has a resistance such that upon applying the feed voltage, the heating current flowing through the heating field has an at least approximately homogeneous current density distribution.
11. The transparent pane according to claim 10, wherein a length of the at least one supply section is dimensioned such that the at least one second electrode has a predefinable electric resistance.
12. The transparent pane according to claim 1, wherein the at least one supply section consists of at least two supply parts separated from each other, which have respective coupling sections electrically connected to the electrically heatable coating, the two coupling sections being disposed such that they are galvanically coupled by the electrically heatable coating.
13. The transparent pane according to claim 12, wherein the two coupling sections have an approximately parallel course.
14. The transparent pane according to claim 12, wherein a first coupling section is connected to one of the at least two first electrodes provided for connection to one of the two terminals of the voltage source and a second coupling section is connected to the at least one connection section.
15. A method for producing manufacturing a transparent pane, comprising:
producing providing an electrically heatable coating,
forming at least two first electrodes provided for electrical connection to two terminals of a voltage source, the at least two first electrodes being electrically connected to the electrically heatable coating such that by applying a feed voltage, a heating current flows over a heating field situated between the at least two first electrodes,
producing providing at least one coating-free zone in the heating field, the at least one coating-free zone being bounded by a zone edge formed at least in sections by the electrically heatable coating, and
producing providing at least one second electrode provided for electrical connection to one of the two terminals of the voltage source, which the at least one second electrode having at least one supply section disposed at least in sections in the at least one coating-free zone and at least one connection section connected to the at least one supply section,
wherein the at least one connection section extends, starting from the at least one coating-free zone, beyond an edge section of the zone edge, and
wherein the edge section is formed by a section of the heating field, which is situated between the at least one coating-free zone and one of the at least two first electrodes provided for connection to the other one of the two terminals of the voltage source.
16. The transparent pane according to claim 3 wherein two or more connection sections are implemented like a comb.
17. The transparent pane according to claim 11, wherein the predefinable electric resistance is equivalent to the sheet resistance of the heatable coating in a surface area that corresponds to the at least one coating-free zone

1. A medical device for pumping a fluid, comprising:
an actuator being disposed adjacent a chamber, the chamber having a diaphragm, the actuator being in contact with the diaphragm and having reciprocal movement;
a shape memory alloy wire attached to the actuator to impart movement to the actuator;
a digital timing circuit for activating the shape memory alloy wire including an electrical energy storage device for providing electrical energy to the shape memory alloy wire; and
a reservoir containing insulin and being in fluid communication with the chamber so that as the shape memory wire imparts movement to the actuator, the diaphragm reacts to the movement of the actuator to expand and thereby draw a predetermined volume of insulin from the reservoir into the chamber.
2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the digital timing circuit is programmable.
3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the rate of insulin delivery is controlled by varying the period of time between actuations of the shape memory alloy wire.
4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the pump is disposable with the exception of the electronics including the digital timing circuit and the shape memory alloy wire.
5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the battery provides electrical energy to the timing circuit.
6. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy wire is up to 40 mm long.
7. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy wire is 125 microns in diameter.
8. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the timing circuit generates an electrical pulse duration lasting about 0.15 seconds.
9. The medical device of claim 1, wherein a portion of the pump is disposable with the exception of the electronics including the digital timing circuit and the shape memory alloy wire.
10. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the insulin reservoir is collapsible.
11. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm has a wetted surface and a non-wetted surface.
12. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the fluid does not contact the actuator.
13. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is isolated from an inlet check valve and an outlet check valve.
14. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is physically separated from an inlet check valve and an outlet check valve.
15. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is attached to the actuator.
16. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the actuator is isolated from the fluid path.
17. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm forms a fluid tight seal between the actuator and the chamber.
18. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the timing circuit is a programmable digital timing circuit.
19. The medical device of claim 18, wherein the timing circuit includes a transistor switch.
20. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the plunger pumps 0.1 microliter of insulin into the patient per each pump cycle.
21. The medical device of claim 20, wherein the insulin pump has an effective maximum of 3000 cycles.
22. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy heats the shape memory alloy wire to a transitional temperature thereby causing the wire to shorten.
23. The medical device of claim 22, wherein the shape memory alloy wire cools and a biasing spring associated with the wire moves the actuator a predetermined amount corresponding to the minimum volume within the chamber.
24. The medical device of claim 22, wherein the actuator moves a predetermined amount corresponding to a maximum volume within the chamber.
25. The medical device of claim 24, wherein the shape memory alloy wire shortens thereby pulling the actuator away from the diaphragm, and wherein the diaphragm is biased toward an open position and remains in contact with the actuator as the actuator moves away from the diaphragm.
26. The medical device of claim 25, wherein the diaphragm forms the chamber when the diaphragm moves to the open position.
27. The medical device of claim 26, wherein the chamber is defined by the moveable diaphragm and a rigid substrate.
28. The medical device of claim 27, wherein as the biasing spring moves the actuator, the actuator pushes the diaphragm to a closed position into contact with the rigid substrate, thereby forcing insulin out of the chamber.
29. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage device is a battery.
30. The medical device of claim 29, wherein a capacitor is electrically connected to the battery and the shape memory alloy wire.
31. The medical device of claim 30, wherein the capacitor is an electrochemical capacitor having a high capacitance and low-equivalent series resistance.
32. The medical device of claim 31, wherein the battery provides electrical energy to the capacitor.
33. The medical device of claim 32, wherein the capacitor is connected in parallel with the battery.
34. The medical device of claim 33, wherein electrical energy is supplied to the shape memory wire primarily from the capacitor due to the substantially lower equivalent series resistance as compared to the battery.
35. The medical device of claim 32, wherein the battery and the capacitor are connected to each other in parallel and are connected to the shape memory alloy wire through the transistor switch.
36. The medical device of claim 35, wherein the battery charges the capacitor with electrical energy when the transistor switch is open.
37. The medical device of claim 36, wherein the capacitor provides electrical energy to the shape memory alloy wire when the transistor switch is closed.
38. A medical device for pumping a fluid, comprising:
an actuator being disposed adjacent a chamber, the chamber having a diaphragm, the actuator being in contact with the diaphragm and having reciprocal movement;
a shape memory alloy wire attached to the actuator to impart movement to the actuator;
a digital timing circuit for activating the shape memory alloy wire including a capacitor for providing electrical energy to the shape memory alloy wire; and
a reservoir containing insulin and being in fluid communication with the chamber so that as the shape memory wire imparts movement to the actuator, the diaphragm reacts to the movement of the actuator to expand and thereby draw a predetermined volume of insulin from the reservoir into the chamber.
39. The medical device of claim 38, wherein the capacitor is an electrochemical capacitor having a high capacitance and low-equivalent series resistance.
40. The medical device of claim 38, wherein the digital timing circuit is programmable.
41. The medical device of claim 38, wherein the rate of fluid delivery is controlled by varying the period of time between actuations of the shape memory alloy wire.
42. The medical device of claim 38, wherein the pump is disposable with the exception of the electronics including the digital timing circuit and the shape memory alloy wire.
43. The medical device of claim 38, wherein the capacitor is electrically charged by a battery.
44. The medical device of claim 38, wherein the insulin does not contact the actuator.
45. The medical device of claim 38, wherein the diaphragm is isolated from an inlet check valve and an outlet check valve.
46. The medical device of claim 38, wherein the diaphragm is physically separated from an inlet check valve and an outlet check valve.
47. The medical device of claim 38, wherein the diaphragm is attached to the actuator.
48. The medical device of claim 38, wherein the actuator is isolated from the insulin flow.
49. The medical device of claim 38, wherein the diaphragm forms a fluid tight seal between the actuator and the chamber.
50. The medical device of claim 38, wherein the electrical energy heats the shape memory alloy wire to a transitional temperature thereby causing the wire to shorten.
51. The medical device of claim 50, wherein the actuator moves a predetermined amount corresponding to a maximum volume within the chamber.
52. The medical device of claim 50, wherein the shape memory alloy wire cools and a biasing spring associated with the wire moves the actuator a predetermined amount corresponding to the minimum volume within the chamber.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method comprising:
conducting a plurality of tests on process variables of a thermal process, with a test of the plurality of tests being associated with two combinations of process variables, the test having first values for a first combination of process variables at a first time and second values for a second combination of process variables at a second time, the test comprising:
locally heating a region of a structure, wherein the local heating results in formation of a thermal field in the structure;
assessing one or more thermal characteristics of the thermal field during a transition between the first combination of process variables and the second combination of process variables; and

based on results of the plurality of tests, generating a process map of a transient response of the one or more thermal characteristics of the thermal field, with the transient response based on a function of the first combination of process variables and the second combination of process variables.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the process variables of each of the first and second combinations are selected from a group comprising a power (P) variable associated with the thermal process, a translation speed (V) variable associated with the thermal process, a material feed rate (MFR) variable (or variable related to MFR) used in the thermal process, one or more structure geometry variables, and a structure temperature (T0) variable.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the first values for the first combination of process variables at the first time comprises a first value for a first process variable at the first time and a first value for a second process variable at the first time;
the second values for the second combination of process variables at the second time comprises a second value for the first process variable at the second time and a second value for the second process variable at the second time; and
assessing the one or more thermal characteristics comprises assessing the one or more thermal characteristics during a transition between the first values and the second values of the first process variable and the second process variable while values of other process variables are held constant.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the first values for the first combination of process variables at the first time comprises a first value for a first process variable;
the second values for the second combination of process variables at the second time comprises a second value for the first process variable at the second time; and
assessing the one or more thermal characteristics comprises assessing the one or more thermal characteristics during a transition between the first value and the second value of the first process variable while values of other process variables are held constant.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more thermal characteristics of the thermal field comprises a dimension of the thermal field, a temperature derivative, a thermal gradient, a cooling rate, an average temperature, or a temperature integral.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein assessing the one or more thermal characteristics comprises tracking values of the one or more thermal characteristics over a time or a distance needed to transition from an initial steady-state value of the one or more thermal characteristics to a final steady-state value of the one or more thermal characteristics.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transient response is further based on a function of at least one of a rate of change between the first combination of process variables and the second combination of process variables, and a path through process variable space between the first combination of process variables and the second combination of process variables.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the transient response is further based on a change in geometry of the structure.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the rate of change is a variable rate of change between the first combination of process variables and the second combination of process variables.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein locally heating the region comprises depositing a bead of material onto a surface of the structure, and wherein the thermal field comprises a melt pool.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein depositing the bead of material comprises melting a material source with a heat source.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein locally heating the region comprises forming a melt pool on a surface of the structure, and wherein the thermal field comprises the melt pool.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermal process comprises an additive manufacturing (AM) process.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the tests comprise one or more experimental tests.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the tests comprise one or more simulations.
16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
using the process map to select process variable values for the two combinations of process variables to yield a selected response time of the one or more thermal characteristics.
17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
generating a plurality of process maps characterizing the thermal process for forming the structure, each process map corresponding to at least one of a geometry of the structure and a temperature of the structure.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:
decomposing a fabrication of a complex structure into a combination of one or more geometries; and
controlling the fabrication of the complex structure based on the process maps for forming each of the one or more geometries.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein a geometry of the complex structure includes at least one of a height of the geometry and a width of the geometry.
20. The method of claim 1, wherein the structure comprises a part that is fabricated in the thermal process.
21. The method of claim 1, wherein the actions of conducting and generating are implemented by one or more processing devices.